Hedge Trimming & Reductions
Conifer and mixed hedges trimmed tight and level, or reduced in height where the green growth allows.
Hedge trimmingConsett, Lanchester & north-west Durham
Tree, hedge & garden services in Consett and Lanchester
Tall conifer hedges, windbreaks that have got out of hand, trees that need a careful prune. We trim and reduce hedges in Consett and Lanchester and handle tree, stump and clearance work across the villages between.
Hedge trimming · Conifer reductions · Tree work · Garden clearances
You don’t need to know the trade name. Just tell us what you want to change.
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High ground, big hedges
Hedge and tree work around Consett and Lanchester
Gardens up here sit high and open to the weather, so a lot of them rely on a thick conifer hedge for shelter and privacy. Those hedges do a good job right up until they get too tall to manage and start throwing the garden into shade.
Trimming and reducing them is a large part of our work in this corner of County Durham. The Lanchester hedge below shows the difference a proper trim makes.
We also prune and remove trees, grind stumps and clear overgrown gardens across Consett, Lanchester and the villages between. Tell us everything that needs doing and we will quote it together.
A recent job in Lanchester
A long conifer hedge brought back into line
Photographed before we started and when we finished, on the same day.
Trimmed tight, top levelled, lawn left clean
Lanchester · March 2025
This conifer hedge runs the full length of a Lanchester back garden and had grown soft and uneven along the top and face. We trimmed it back to a tight, level line, working within the green growth, cleared the cuttings and left the lawn tidy. The paler patches were already there from older growth; conifers do not fill in from bare wood, so we blended them rather than cut into them.
Conifer hedges in plain English
What a trim can and can’t do
Conifers are different from most hedges: they only regrow from green growth, never from the bare wood underneath. That shapes every decision about an overgrown one. If you are not sure which route fits, start with our overgrown hedge guide.
- 01
Trim within the green
For a hedge that is the right size but has gone loose, a trim back to a tight line keeps it full and makes it look new again. Done once a year, it stays that way.
Hedge trimming and reductions - 02
Reduce the height carefully
A hedge that has gone too tall can come down as far as there is green growth below the cut, sometimes in stages over a couple of seasons. We show you where that line is before we start.
When to cut a hedge - 03
Replace it when it is past saving
If the hedge is mostly brown wood, no amount of trimming brings it back. Removal with the stumps ground out, then fencing or new planting, is often the better value.
Hedge removal Garden fencing
Our services
Tree, hedge and garden services in Consett and Lanchester
Choose the service you need, or ask about several jobs at the same property.
Tree Surgery
Pruning and crown work for trees you want to keep, and planned removal, in sections where space is tight, when one has to go.
Tree surgeryStump Grinding
Grind out the stump left after a tree or hedge comes out, to a depth agreed for what you want to do with the ground.
Stump grindingGarden Clearances
One-off clearance of overgrown gardens and borders, with the green waste taken away.
Garden clearancesConsett, Lanchester and nearby
Ask about work at your property
We cover Consett, Lanchester and the villages around them, including Shotley Bridge, Blackhill, Leadgate, Delves Lane, Castleside, Medomsley, Ebchester and Burnhope. Send your postcode and we will confirm. Parts of Lanchester and Shotley Bridge are conservation areas, so tree work there may need notice to Durham County Council first; the protected-tree helper shows how to check.
Useful answers
Before you get in touch
Can a tall conifer hedge be brought down to a lower height?
Usually, as long as there is green growth to cut back to. Conifers do not regrow from bare wood, so we agree the new height on the visit and sometimes take a very tall hedge down in stages. The Lanchester hedge above was trimmed back to a level line on one visit.
Why does my conifer hedge have brown or yellow patches, and will they grow back?
Patches like that usually come from an old hard cut, shading from the hedge next to it, or a dry summer. On most conifers they do not green up again. We trim to blend them in as far as the growth allows and will tell you honestly if a section is past saving.
Do you cover Consett as well as Lanchester?
Yes. We take enquiries from Consett, Lanchester and the villages between and around them, including Shotley Bridge, Blackhill, Leadgate, Delves Lane, Castleside, Medomsley, Ebchester and Burnhope. Send your postcode and we will confirm.
When is the best time to trim a conifer hedge?
Any month can work. For the neatest finish, conifers are best trimmed from late spring to early autumn while they are growing, on a frost-free day. We check for nesting birds before cutting at any time of year. Our hedge timing guide goes into more detail.
Can you take down a tree in a small or exposed garden?
Yes. Where there is no room to fell a tree in one piece we dismantle it in sections from the top down. We are NPTC qualified and fully insured, and we plan the job around sheds, fences and neighbouring gardens before we start.
Do you take the trimmings away?
Yes, when it is part of the quote. A long conifer hedge produces a lot of cuttings, so most customers ask us to remove them, and we agree that before we start.
5.0 from 43 Google reviews
More reviewsRead the reviews on Google“Sharp Hedges came out today, they did a great job reducing our hedge and tidying it up.”
“Only a small garden job for my tree but the service by Sharp Hedges Tree and Garden Services was first class!”
“Excellent service. From the initial call to completing the job in less than a week.”
Get a free quote
Tell us what needs doing
Send your postcode and a brief description of the work. Photos or video can help us prepare, but they’re optional. We’ll discuss the job and agree the next step; for most work, that means a free in-person visit.
What happens next
- 1We look at what you send.
- 2We clarify the job and, for most work, arrange a free visit.
- 3You get your quote, with no obligation.
We’ll look at the job details and reply between 8am and 8pm. If we need a closer look, we’ll arrange a suitable time with you.
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